Fremont Cracks Down On Windshield Tinting

Fremont police said on May 14 that officers will spend the next several weeks targeting vehicles with illegal windshield tint, framing the move as a traffic-safety measure after a recent multi-agency enforcement operation. The department said officers issued more than 400 citations during that operation, including 214 for speeding and 69 tied to windshield and windshield-tint violations. Police said tinted windshields can reduce visibility and make it harder for officers to see into a vehicle during a stop. The enforcement notice was published by Fremont Patch on Thursday and linked to the Fremont Police Department's broader traffic-enforcement work. ### Why are Fremont officers focusing on windshield tint now? The May 14 announcement followed what Fremont police described as a traffic safety enforcement operation with other agencies earlier that day. The department said the second-most common category of stops in that operation involved windshield and windshield-tint violations, with 69 citations or stops in that category. (patch.com) Fremont police said windshield tint may look minor but creates "real safety risks" by increasing glare and reducing visibility for drivers. The department said that can make it harder to see pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists, and can also increase risk during traffic stops when officers cannot clearly see inside a vehicle. ### What does California law actually prohibit on a windshield? (patch.com) California Vehicle Code Section 26708 says a driver may not operate a vehicle with material placed on the windshield or windows if it obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows. A related section, Vehicle Code 26708.5, says a person may not apply transparent material to the windshield or side or rear windows if it alters color or reduces light transmittance, except in limited circumstances allowed elsewhere in the code. (patch.com) Section 26708 also includes a narrow exception for clear, colorless and transparent material if it meets specified conditions, including a minimum visible light transmittance of 88%. That provision is one reason drivers often need to check the exact product and placement of any film rather than assume all tint is allowed. ### Are all tinted windows illegal in California? California law draws its clearest line at the windshield and the driver's clear view, not at every piece of glass on a vehicle. (california.public.law) The statute cited by Fremont police focuses on material that is applied to the windshield or that obstructs visibility through the windshield or side windows. The legal question in a stop is often whether the material changes the windshield's color, reduces light transmittance, or obstructs the driver's view. (california.public.law) Fremont police did not announce a new local ordinance; the department said it is increasing enforcement under existing vehicle rules. ### What happens if a driver gets cited? California courts describe a fix-it ticket as a correctable violation that can be cleared by fixing the issue and showing proof of correction. (california.public.law) The California Courts self-help guide says drivers generally pay a $25 fee for each fix-it ticket after proof of correction is submitted. Vehicle Code Section 40610 sets out the notice-to-correct process and says the form must include an estimate of the time allowed for correction and proof, generally not more than 30 days. (patch.com) The statute also says that process may not apply in some cases, including when a violation is treated as an immediate safety hazard. ### Where can Fremont drivers check the rules before they are stopped? Fremont Police directs residents to its traffic-citation and California Vehicle Code resources through the department's public information pages. (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov) The California Legislature's vehicle code site and the California DMV handbook also summarize rules against objects or materials that block a driver's view through the windshield or windows. The next step for drivers is immediate rather than procedural: Fremont police said the focused enforcement will continue over the next few weeks. (california.public.law) Drivers who want to avoid a citation can review Vehicle Code Sections 26708 and 26708.5 and, if needed, remove or replace noncompliant windshield film before that enforcement period runs its course. (patch.com) (fremontpolice.gov)